The ruckman's had to bide his time while watching Riverina counterparts debut and even entrench themselves in the top 22, but his wait could finally be over.

Sam Jacob's retirement and an untimely shoulder reconstruction for off-season recruit Brayden Preuss means Flynn will battle with youngster Kieren Briggs to be the Giants' first choice ruckman in round one against St Kilda.

The 2015 draftee has waited in the wings learning from the likes of Jacobs, Dawson Simpson and Giants veteran Shane Mumford, who has publicly urged Flynn and Briggs to grab their chance in the belief he will only play a handful of games.

Flynn has endured a couple of near misses, with a torn quad in 2018 and an ACL injury in mid-2019 coming at inopportune times when the selection door appeared to be open.

But he also knows he'd be out the door already if Giants coach Leon Cameron didn't feel he had something to offer.

"I'd be lying if I said it hadn't taken a toll on me at certain points. I don't think many blokes have lasted five years on a list and not played a game," Flynn said.

"I haven't been the worst hit with injuries, but they've probably come at just the wrong time.

"I'm super confident the apprenticeship I've served has put me in good stead, and I feel like the setbacks have made me fairly resilient.

"My old man always reminds me you wouldn't be there if they didn't think you have something.

"Five years on a list, you can sit there saying 'is it really going to happen?', but I love playing football and being around the boys. That drove me."

Being in the hub through last year's COVID-affected season meant Flynn was denied to press his AFL claims through the reserves.

"We played a lot of 12 on 12, 15 on 15, that type of stuff," he said.

"I went into Leon's office one weekend when I thought I'd played a couple of good games and his main point was he hadn't seen me play 18 on 18 for 15 months since I did my knee.

"We finished the hubs at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast, which for the guys outside the top 22 was a kind of a resort-style getaway, but it was frustrating at the same time."

Flynn said he has learned plenty training against different types of ruckmen, and has faith his body will handle the aggressive style he brings.

"Everyone was shattered for Preussy when he went down, he's fitted into the group seamlessly. But it's a chance for myself and Briggsy to try and make our mark and I'm excited for what lies ahead," he said.

"I've always played with a little bit of aggression and gone after the man a bit. I've been in compromising positions with my knee and it's held up, so that's not really in my mind anymore.

"You look at the way 'Mummy' plays and it's all aggression and hurting somebody, looking after your teammates.

"He's been massive in reasserting that I have to support my teammates and my midfield, but also being aggressive and taking it on my shoulders that I'm going to have to be the big man out there.

"He's helped enormously with my craft around stoppages, my footwork and touch, and has instilled a lot of confidence in me."

All that hard work may finally come to fruition with a debut in round one.

"I got drafted with (Riverina products) Harry Himmelberg, Matt Kennedy and Jacob Hopper, and everyone says it's not your time yet and you work on your own clock, things like that," he said.

"I've watched a lot of boys debut in front of me and seen some massive rounds of applauses for other boys. It does hit you sometimes but you have to remind yourself things will happen in time."

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